Chapter 199 A Bit More Intimate
Seeing her determined expression, Rodolfo felt quite relieved.
Good thing that despite suffering for a few years, she had found her original passion again and had a clear goal. Maybe this was what growth meant.
After moving past that topic, the two started talking about Bianca again.
Hearing that Bianca was now learning to paint and studying music with the famous musician Selene, Rodolfo was shocked but also incredibly proud.
Olivia even showed Rodolfo photos and videos of Bianca studying on her phone.
"Bianca actually has such artistic talent! Look at this, the painting is really good." Rodolfo couldn't stop praising the artwork in the photos.
Olivia said with a smile, "If you like it, you can have Bianca paint for you later. She needs models to practice with anyway."
"That would be great! I lack everything except time. Whenever Bianca wants to paint, I'm available!" Rodolfo's eyes lit up, his expression full of anticipation.
By the time they finished unwrapping Bianca's gifts, it was getting late.
Seeing it was about time, Olivia said goodbye with Bianca, preparing to head home.
Rodolfo and Simon reluctantly saw them out, calling after them, "Come over for dinner with Bianca whenever you're free. Bianca, whenever you want to eat something, just come here. I have everything!"
"Okay!" Bianca agreed with a big smile.
Olivia also said to Rodolfo, "If you have time these days, go out for a walk and visit my research institute. I have some things I'd like to ask your advice about."
Rodolfo readily agreed, "Alright, let's do it tomorrow then."
"Okay." Olivia had no objections. "I'll come pick you up then."
And so it was settled.
Only after Olivia's car left did Rodolfo and Simon go back inside.
On the way home, Bianca was especially happy.
After parking, the mother and daughter carried a pile of boxes into the house.
When Evelyn saw them, she looked surprised, "Did you two go wholesale shopping today? Why did you bring back so much stuff again?"
"Again?" Olivia was a bit confused.
Evelyn pointed at a pile of bags on the floor, saying, "Look, all those shoes you bought."
Olivia looked stunned, "I didn't buy any shoes. Were they delivered to the wrong place?"
Hearing this, Evelyn was also surprised for a moment, then said, "That's impossible. The recipient's name on them is yours."
Hearing this, Olivia found it strange.
She instinctively opened those beautifully packaged bags and found five or six pairs of very beautiful high heels inside.
Each pair had a different style, but all were equally beautiful and exquisite, looking like works of art.
It was only then that Evelyn noticed the card that came with the bags.
She was instantly stunned.
"Oh my god! These are all globally limited editions. The designer is named Odette Chambers, who only does custom work for royalty, nobility, and high-end clients from prominent families!
My goodness, Olivia, do you know how hard it is to order a pair of her shoes?
Even having money doesn't guarantee you can get in line!"
Odette's limited edition works got Evelyn, a fashion enthusiast, extremely excited.
But after hearing this, Olivia was confused. The shoes were that hard to get?
She shook her head like a rattle drum, "Then there's no way I bought them! I don't even know Odette."
She also wouldn't go out of her way to custom order high heels... no, five or six pairs, and limited editions at that.
"I also don't think it was you." As Evelyn spoke, she flipped the card over to check it, and found there was an inner page.
After opening it and reading for a few seconds, her eyes suddenly filled with interest.
Olivia felt confused by her look and couldn't help asking, "What's with that look?"
Evelyn said with a smile, "I know who sent you the shoes."
"Huh?" Olivia was puzzled.
Evelyn simply handed over the card, saying, "See for yourself."
Olivia took it, and then saw at the bottom of the card, the signature read "Andrew."
She was stunned too.
Seeing that she had noticed, Evelyn started teasing, "You still say there's nothing between you two, and now he's sending you shoes.
I should have known. Only he would be so generous."
Olivia didn't know how to explain. She felt her heartbeat skip a bit.
But it wasn't the same thought as Evelyn's.
Andrew definitely didn't mean anything by it.
She put away the card and immediately said, "I'll go ask..."
Then she took out her phone and called Andrew.
He answered quickly, and Andrew's voice was as magnetic and warm as always, "It's so late, haven't you rested yet?"
Hearing that magnetic voice, Olivia felt her ears tingle a bit, and inexplicably felt embarrassed.
But she still responded, "No, not yet. I have something I want to ask you."
"Go ahead." Andrew waited patiently.
Olivia didn't hesitate too long and asked directly, "Mr. Hamilton, why did you suddenly send so many pairs of shoes to my house? Were they sent to the wrong place?"
Andrew replied warmly, "No mistake. I ruined a pair of your shoes before, so I picked out a few pairs for you. Do they fit?"
His answer immediately reminded Olivia of her embarrassing moment at the summit that night.
Come to think of it, it wasn't really Andrew's fault. It was actually her own responsibility.
She was the one who carelessly got her shoe stuck in the drain.
She said with some amusement, "How can you blame yourself for that? These shoes you sent must be very expensive. I can't accept them. Let me pay you for them."
"No need." Andrew didn't agree with this suggestion, and also said, "These shoes don't cost money."
"How is that possible?" Olivia didn't believe it. "Evelyn already told me these are haute couture styles from a famous designer. Don't try to fool me."
Andrew hadn't expected her to know so much, and said with some helplessness in his tone, "Really, no money needed, because that designer is my relative, and she didn't charge me."
Olivia pressed her lips together, then said, "Then should I pay her? These must all be her hard work."
"No need." Andrew said helplessly, "She won't accept it. Don't waste your effort."
With the conversation reaching this point, Olivia knew that no matter what she said, Andrew wouldn't accept the money.
After hanging up, Olivia had a headache.
She felt like she was always accepting his kindness. If this continued, wouldn't Andrew think she was someone who liked taking advantage of others?
Olivia didn't want to leave that kind of impression on him.
She also needed to think carefully about how to give Andrew a gift.
But for the moment, she couldn't think of what to give.
Andrew seemed to lack nothing, and ordinary expensive luxury items seemed too tacky.
After racking her brain, she still couldn't come up with anything.
With no other choice, Olivia could only ask Evelyn to help her think of ideas.
For once, Evelyn didn't tease her and gave her a bunch of suggestions. "For men, it's usually watches, clothes, ties and such. I think you could pick something that could also be used at banquets and other occasions."
After listening, Olivia shook her head, "I don't think that's quite right."
Although the suggestions were good, weren't these things a bit too intimate?
So that night, the two discussed for a long time but didn't come to any conclusion.
The next morning, after Olivia dropped Bianca off at school, she went to Rodolfo's place to pick him up and take him to the research institute.
Rodolfo had been waiting since early morning and was quite satisfied with the scale of Olivia's research institute.
Although there weren't many people, the equipment inside was all cutting-edge.
"Since we recently started research and development in cooperation with the military, things will be a bit busy. I've completed the initial plan. Come over here and take a look..." Olivia personally accompanied Rodolfo and explained everything to him in detail.
Olivia had shown Rodolfo the research and development materials for the collaboration before.
Some things even Rodolfo hadn't seen before, and after seeing them with his own eyes, he became even more satisfied with Olivia. "Very good, very good. Although you've been slack these years, you haven't lost your foundation. Your abilities are still there."
Rodolfo himself had been passionate about research and development when he was young, and once he got into these things, he basically couldn't tear himself away.
After touring for a whole morning, Rodolfo's heart began to stir, and he simply decided not to leave. He stayed at the research institute and dove into studying these things.